Headcoach GIdeon Tarus with his players during a training session at Kasarani/ HANDOUTWafalme Stars head coach Gideon Tarus is targeting a top-three finish at the 2026 CAVB Men’s African Nations Volleyball Championship as Kenya seeks to build on its impressive qualifying campaign.
The continental championship will be held in Tunis, Tunisia, from September 13-26, with Kenya hoping to use the tournament to strengthen its position on the road to the 2027 FIVB Men’s World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. “If we can finish in the top three, that would be something. The players are in high spirits, and we are taking advantage of that,” said Tarus.
Tarus, who recently guided the General Service Unit to retain the Kenya Cup title, has used domestic competition to keep his players match-fit while working on specific areas during the national team camp.
“Luckily, the players are fresh from competing in the Kenya Cup and National League, so everyone is in shape. We focused on ball handling, and we intend to step up our work in the other departments in the remaining time,” he said.
Kenya earned its place in Tunis after dominating the CAVB Zone V qualifiers in June, winning all four matches without dropping a set to finish top with 12 points. Wafalme Stars opened with a 3-0 (25-20, 28-26, 25-17) victory over Tanzania before beating hosts Uganda 3-0 (25-17, 26-24, 25-22) in a clash between the two unbeaten sides.
They then defeated South Sudan 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-23) before completing the clean sweep against Burundi with another 3-0 victory (25-19, 25-18, 25-15). The four wins gave Kenya a perfect 12-0 sets record and underlined its dominance at regional level.
Nicholas Matui was named Most Valuable Player, while Levis Ogutu and Brian Melly were selected as Best Middle Blocker and Best Setter, respectively, in the Zone V Dream Team.
Assistant coach Elisha Aliwa believes the team has built positive momentum ahead of the continental assignment. “Basically, our training in the morning sessions will be all about ball handling before we engage in game-like situations in the afternoon. It’s a full house, and that’s really impressive,” said Aliwa.
Sixteen countries will compete in Tunis, including defending champions Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Cameroon, Rwanda, hosts Tunisia, Chad, Morocco, Kenya, Uganda, The Gambia, Nigeria, Central African Republic and Zimbabwe.
The championship was initially scheduled for Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, but was moved to Tunis after national federations raised health and safety concerns over travel to the DRC.
The 14-man Kenyan squad includes outside hitters Nicholas Matui, Denis Esokon, Denis Omollo and Moses Kamau; middle blockers Levis Ogutu, Brian Kamonde, Simon Kipkorir and Felix Ogembo; opposite hitters Enock Mogeni and Peter Kamara; and liberos Stephen Barack and Hudson Kipchumba.
Wafalme Stars finished ninth at the 2021 African Nations Championship after stunning defending champions Egypt 3-2 in Kigali. In 2024, they won silver at the African Games in Accra, Ghana, losing only to Egypt in the final.
